Tuesday, 7 Mar 2017

Written Answers Nos. 593-608

Health Services

Questions (593)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

593. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health his views on whether it is acceptable that on 15 February 2017 an incident (details supplied) took place. [11739/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.

Medicinal Products Reimbursement

Questions (594)

Paul Kehoe

Question:

594. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health the reason medication (details supplied) is not available to medical card holders when it is necessary on medical need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11774/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Mental Health Services Staff

Questions (595)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

595. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health when a consultant in child and adolescent psychiatry will be appointed to the north Lee area in Cork; the reason there has been such a delay; the additional assistance which will be provided to deal with the backlog of cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11775/17]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Maternity Services

Questions (596)

Eamon Ryan

Question:

596. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Health the status of the proposed move of the Rotunda Hospital to a site at Connolly Hospital, Dublin 15; the amount this will cost; if there is a timeline for the potential move in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11782/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The model of stand-alone maternity hospitals is not the norm internationally. Government policy is therefore to co-locate all remaining maternity hospitals with adult acute services in order to provide optimal clinical outcomes. Co-location of maternity services with adult services provides mothers with access to a full range of medical and support services should the need arise. The availability of these services helps ensure the delivery of an optimum, safe service, particularly for high risk mothers and babies.

With regard to the redevelopment of the Rotunda Hospital on the Connolly Hospital campus, I understand that the Rotunda has engaged consultants to work on a preliminary design brief. I am also aware that a Masterplan is currently being developed for the Connolly campus and this will take account of, and support, the colocation of the Rotunda and Connolly hospitals.

As the Rotunda redevelopment project is at a very early development stage, it would be premature to provide any indicative timeframes for completion, or cost estimates, at this point.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (597)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

597. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when a medical assessment appointment will be provided for a person (details supplied); the reason for the delay in issuing a date for this appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11798/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.

The National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care.

This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.

In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.

Hospital Beds Data

Questions (598)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

598. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health when the bed capacity review is starting or if it has started; the detail of its terms of reference; the stakeholders that have been consulted; if they will be liaised with during the review; and if the review will be directed to have a particular model of care in mind in making any recommendations of bed capacity. [11804/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

My Department has commenced a capacity review in line with the commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government. I would like to assure the Deputy that this is a priority action for me and my Department.

As I have previously advised, my intention is that the review will have a wider scope than previous exercises and will examine key elements of primary and community care infrastructure in addition to hospital facilities.

Assessing capacity requirements is a complex task and cannot be divorced from considerations on the underlying model of care we want to develop for the Irish health service. It is widely acknowledged that primary care can provide more appropriate and effective management and treatment of some illnesses and conditions, especially chronic diseases. Similarly, the availability of non-acute beds and services in the community can mitigate the need for acute hospital admission, or facilitate earlier discharge. These factors directly contribute to the demands on the acute hospital system. It is important that it is within this context that the review is undertaken.

Draft terms of reference for the review have been developed. These are as follows:

- To consider current capacity in the health system and benchmark with international comparators;

- to determine drivers of future demand for healthcare including demographic and epidemiological trends;

- to analyse how reforms to the model of care will impact on future capacity requirements across the system; and

- to provide an overall assessment of current and future capacity requirements for each year for the period 2017-2030.

The review is being led by my Department and will be overseen by a Steering Group. The Steering Group is now in place and includes senior officials from my Department and the Departments of the Taoiseach and Public Expenditure and Reform, the HSE, and experts with a clinical and academic background. It will hold its first meeting this month, at which I expect it to consider the terms of reference for the review and to begin discussions on issues such as the review process, external expertise requirements and stakeholder consultations.

An independent peer group of international health experts will also be established to review and validate the review methodology and findings.

It is essential that this review is progressed sufficiently to enable it to feed into the mid-term review of the capital programme, which will take place later in the year. While the review will consider capacity requirements over the next decade or so, I am also anxious that it have a short-term focus and determine how capital investment over the coming years can be best targeted, given the current pressures being experienced within our hospital services.

The mechanisms for the review are now in place, and I look forward to the emerging findings later in the year.

Audiology Services Provision

Questions (599)

Paul Kehoe

Question:

599. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health the audiology cover currently available to patients in areas (details supplied); if there is to be increased cover provided to reduce waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11806/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.

Injecting Facilities

Questions (600)

Bríd Smith

Question:

600. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if Merchants Quay in Dublin 8 has been selected as the location for an injecting facility pilot scheme; and if not, the procedures for selection and timeframe for decision. [11808/17]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The Government approved the publication of the Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2017 on 7th February 2017. It is important to note that the Bill will not establish the location of the supervised injecting facility. However, it is envisaged that the first such facility would be established in Dublin city centre, where there is a significant, recognised problem of public injecting. In line with the experience in other countries which have established such facilities, it is expected that the location will be carefully selected to address, most effectively, the requirements and concerns of the service users and the wider community. The HSE has established a working group to support the implementation of the Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injection Facilities) Legislation. Its main purpose is to make recommendations on programme design and governance structures to inform an appropriate procurement process being organised by the HSE. It is intended that the pilot centre will be set up before the end of 2017.

Services for People with Disabilities

Questions (601)

Brendan Howlin

Question:

601. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health the number of service users who are currently on the waiting list to access full-time adult residential care places in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11810/17]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.

As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.

Orthodontic Services Waiting Lists

Questions (602)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

602. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Galway will be issued with a date for an orthodontic appointment; the reason for the delay in issuing this appointment in view of the fact that this person has been on the waiting list for three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11844/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.

Medicinal Products Licensing

Questions (603)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

603. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 455 of 24 January 2017, the number of exemptions sought to date in 2017 from the law on the usage of cannabis for medicinal purposes. [11852/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

To date I have received two licence applications for cannabis-based products containing Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC is a psychoactive substance derived from cannabis and as such is controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Acts.

Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland

Questions (604)

Bobby Aylward

Question:

604. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in the provision of a nursing pin for a person (details supplied) from the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11861/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I have received a report from the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) on this issue.

I understand that the applicant applied for registration in the General Nurse Division of the Register on 19th September, 2016. As part of the application process the applicant was required to furnish certain documentation with her completed application form. The application was reviewed in the Registration Department of the NMBI on 26th September 2016. Following this review an email was sent to the applicant on 27th September 2016. However, no response was received. A further email was sent on 27th January 2017. A response was received and the application was reviewed on 27th February 2017. I understand that a decision will issue to the applicant in the coming days.

Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland

Questions (605)

Bobby Aylward

Question:

605. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time for the provision of nursing pins to new nurses from the Nursing and Midwifery Board; his views on whether the current waiting times for the provision of nursing pins are an issue for young nurses taking up employment here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11862/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I have received a report from the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) on this issue.

An overseas application for registration with the NMBI is active for a six month period on receipt of a request for an application pack. An applicant has this specified period of time in which to ensure all required documents are received by the NMBI in order to consider their application. I understand from the NMBI that it is difficult to determine an exact processing timeframe for overseas applications as it will vary depending on how quickly required documents are received from the applicant. The NMBI has indicated that upon receipt of all the required documents the following timelines apply:

15 working day period for the NMBI Registration Department to review/assess an EU/Non-EU File

If the application requires an educational assessment the file will be assessed within a 10 working day timeframe.

The decisions reached may be to recommend registration, to undergo an adaptation/aptitude test, to refuse the application or to seek further information from the applicant.

I have been advised by the NMBI that a review has taken place of the current processes relating to overseas applications. Recommendations from the process review involve full revision of the current application form. In addition, a dedicated EU registration team has been established to focus on improving all aspects of the registration process.

It is important to note, however, that many applications received in NMBI are incomplete and a decision on the application cannot be reached until all required documentation is received.

It may be of interest to the Deputy to note that during 2016 a total of 3,788 individuals were registered with the NMBI. During 2016 the NMBI issued a total of 4,323 application packs to individuals who trained outside Ireland compared to 2,534 application packs issued during 2015. Any undue delays in registration of nurses are obviously of concern to both the NMBI and myself as Minister for Health. The NMBI is very much aware of the importance of providing an efficient, high quality registration service. The Board will continue to make improvements in this regard. However, this will in part depend on the applicants providing all the required documentation.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (606)

Robert Troy

Question:

606. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an appointment for an angiogram for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11863/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.

The scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she should take the matter up with the consultant and the hospital involved. In relation to the specific case raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.

Medical Card Applications

Questions (607)

Kevin O'Keeffe

Question:

607. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if he will reverse a decision to cancel a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied); if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the documentation submitted by the person's employers was not seen by them; and if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that there are complications in this case. [11868/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.

The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information was issued to members.

Dental Services Provision

Questions (608)

Imelda Munster

Question:

608. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Health the details of the HSE's plans for the transfer of dental patients to Dundalk, Navan and Ardee for treatment due to the lack of dental services for primary school children in Drogheda and south County Louth (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11870/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.